Officers seek details if needed

Telecom companies have assured the public that law officers are only seeking access to data on customers when it is necessary for investigations.

Figures supplied by the Department of Justice show there were, on average, 41 requests to access phone or internet records every day in 2010.

This was a 32% rise on the same figures for 2009. Within that, there was a 200% rise in the requests for files on internet traffic.